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RAWALPINDI, Aug 4: At least 25 people were killed on Friday as monsoon rains and flash floods hit Rawalpindi and adjoining areas.
Officials feared the death toll in Rawalpindi – at present 14 — to rise as several people, including children, were still missing after the flash flood swept away vehicles and people on foot.
In the worst such incident, an overcrowded van fell into a swollen stream near the Munduwal village after the driver reportedly missed the connecting bridge in hard rain.
Villagers rescued 12 passengers and recovered the bodies of 11 others. But a number of passengers were still missing.
People in low-lying areas of Rawalpindi were still reeling from the havoc caused by the 106mm of rain on July 24 when Friday’s 212mm downpour again inundated their areas.
City roads again turned into streams, causing traffic jams and breakdowns. Access to many areas was cut off by the rising waters.
Water level in Rawal Dam, which supplies water to Rawalpindi, reached dangerous level, forcing officials to open its spillways to release excess water which subsequently inundated several downstream areas.
Policemen were posted to monitor the water level in the Leh Nullah, which is notorious for breaking its banks and bringing death and destruction to the adjoining areas. On Friday the flood water touched the 17-foot mark but caused no damage.
District Nazim Raja Javed Ikhlas said that the situation was under control and “there is no need to declare an emergency in the city”.
Met office has forecast more rains during the next three days.
APP ADDS: Islamabad recorded 150mm rain, filling the Simly Dam, one of the main sources of water supply to the twin cities.
The storage capacity of Rawal Dam is 1,752.2 feet, while the current level of the water is maintained at 1750.8 feet while the water level at the Simly Dam touched 2,287 feet. It has a total storage capacity of 2,310 feet.
The intense rain also disrupted flights to and from the twin cities.
The telecom network was also affected by rain in some areas.
Met office said that 143mm rain was recorded in Attock, Rawalakot 127mm, Jehlum 108mm, Muzaffarbad 107mm and Balakot recorded 86mm rain.
Lahore: A strong monsoon system and westerly winds are causing torrential rains in northern and northeastern Punjab, the NWFP and the Northern Areas and there are chances of more rain in the next 24 hours, according to director of the Pakistan Meteorological Department Regional Mohammad Riaz.
The Met office forecast fairly widespread thunderstorms and heavy rains in Rawalpindi division during the next 24 hours.
